Discussions on building a new custom home as well as remodeling or fixing an old one.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Fixing a Whirlpool agitator

Our Whirlpool washing machine recently stopped agitating the clothes during heavy loads. (For you non-homemakers, the agitator is that finned post that spins around in the middle of the washer.) Rather than spend $80 plus parts on a service call, a little bit of research online told me that the cause was likely worn-out agitator dogs. A new set of dogs cost me only $6 at a local appliance supply shop, and it took me only a few minutes to replace them myself.
In order to buy the part, you may need to know the model number of your washing machine. This can be found on a sticker located on the back edge of the mouth of the machine, right below the hinged edge of the lid. Our model number was LSQ9544KQ0.

The following YouTube video does a great job of explaining the process:

The only caveat that I encountered was not being able to unscrew the 7/16" bolt that holds the agitator in place. I couldn't find a way to hold the agitator still so I could exert torque on the bolt. I ended up using my new Milwaukee impact driver to unscrew it. Impact drivers are great for situations where the whole assembly wants to turn with the bolt.

The whole repair only took me about 10-15 minutes, which included several trips to the garage to eventually end up with the impact driver.

Have you uncovered any other super-simple appliance repairs? Please share them in the comments below.